Episode VI: Beta Test Read Free Page A

AI programming language and the ancient language of your people are so closely related," I explained.
    "I understand. How has she become unstable? What behavior is she exhibiting that troubles you?" the small woman asked. I still hadn't seen her face as she had kept the robe on.
    "When we activate her in the test area, she is psychotic and exhibits a type of homicidal rage directed at anyone that comes close to her. I have gone over every line of code, triple checked module interaction, and I am still unable to discover the reason for this behavior," I replied.
    "Are you certain she isn't simply at her menses?" the small woman asked reasonably.
    Her reply took me a minute to process; was this woman seriously asking if I was sure Athena wasn't having her period?
    The small being suddenly cracked up laughing hysterically. "I'm sorry," more laughing. "Lord Cowan,” giggle fit. "But the look!" More laughing and she waved me further into her apartment.
    To say I was confused was a major understatement. What was going on here? Was this really the Lore-Keeper Freyair? I took the seat I was offered as my hostess finally took off her robe and dropped it on the chair before sitting on it.
    Seeing my face, she finally relented. "My Lord, I am truly sorry, but I was playing a small joke on you. You see, Shariline is my sister and she told me about you and your family. When I got the request to meet with you from the Matriarch, I just couldn't help myself."
    "Well, I will admit I had no idea what to expect meeting you, but humor was probably the furthest from my mind," I said. "It was a pretty good joke."
    "Well, all joking aside, it sounds like a very serious problem. You are worried about it not only affecting the AI currently under development, but all future AI as well?" Freyair asked.
    I nodded. "Yeah, I really don't understand where this is coming from. Sarah has an almost identical base structure and she's not unstable at all. I simply do not understand how this is happening."
    She looked thoughtful for a few moments. "Much of the ancient language is shrouded in mystery even to us. Some of it may be lost completely to us. Our Simonian brothers have aided us greatly in refining and clarifying much of the knowledge found on our old planets, but there is still much to be relearned.
    "I have been honored with the knowledge of your AI language and how closely it follows that of our forebears. It was troubling to me that not all the words and commands translated and I had actually made a note to myself to seek you out on this issue to better understand the discrepancies involved. Perhaps the issue you are having has something to do with that," she finished.
    "Perhaps, the thought I had might be one of context; a word or command I'm using doesn't have the definition I think it does when the AI reads it. But then again, Sarah has examined the code as well and did not see anything wrong with it, but then again, her frame of reference may be different than that of the new AI," I explained.
    Freyair shrugged. "Maybe she really is on her menses. The ancient language holds many mysteries we still don’t fully understand. That was the reason sister approached you to give you that warning. The ancient words have a power we do not fully understand and must be used with care. So much of their meaning and function has been lost to us that many believe it too dangerous to use in any form."
    I had an idea. "You said you understand the programming language, right? Why don't you come to my lab and take a look? It certainly couldn't hurt anything!"
    "I would be happy to of course, but I should tell you that although I am familiar with your programming language, I am not a programmer. I may not understand what it is I'm looking at," Freyair replied. "Perhaps if I see her when she is active it will help."
    "I feel I should warn you; when she is active, she is very violent. She's limited to holographic display only and isolated in a special programming